State of Rajasthan vs Hanuman - 2025 Supreme(SC) 1024

Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation

2025 Supreme(SC) 1024

SANDEEP MEHTA, PRASANNA B. VARALE
State of Rajasthan – Appellant
Versus
Hanuman – Respondent

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Ms. Sansriti Pathak, A.A.G., Ms. Nidhi Jaswal, AOR, Ms. Shagufa Khan, Adv. Mr. Aman Prasad, Adv.
For the Respondent: Mr. Rohit Minocha, AOR.

Table of Content
1. overview of trial court judgment and conviction. (Para 1 , 2)
2. circumstantial evidence and acquittal by the high court. (Para 3 , 4)
3. arguments on the sufficiency of the evidence. (Para 5 , 6)
4. legal standards for appeals against acquittals. (Para 7)
5. standard for interference in acquittal appeals. (Para 9)
6. conclusion: appeal dismissed; high court judgment upheld. (Para 10 , 11)

ORDER :

1. The instant appeal has been preferred by the State of Rajasthan for assailing by the judgment dated 15th May, 2015 rendered by the Division Bench of the High Court of Rajasthan in Criminal Appeal No. 788 of 2009 whereby the High Court, accepted the appeal preferred by the respondent herein and acquitted him while setting aside the judgment dated 10th December, 2008 passed by the Additional Sessions Judge No. 1, Fast Track, Kota (hereinafter being referred to as the ‘trial Court’) in Sessions Case No. 63 of 2007.

2. The trial Court had convicted the respondent for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , 1860 and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs.100/-, in default of payment of fine, to further undergo 3 months simple

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